Thomas b



T. B. BUR'TIS.

' Gas Purifier.

Patented Apr. 30. 1867,

lnven'ton Witnesses= AM. PHOTO-LIT HD. C0. N.Y (OSBDRNE'S .PRDCESS.)

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, THOMAS B. BURTIS, of Chicago, in the county of Cook, in the State of Illinois, have I inventeda new and useful Improvement in Gas Condenser, Scrubber, and Washer; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference thereon.

The application of my said invention is more especially for cleansing and purifying the illuminating gas madeby dry distillation of bituminous coal, but the application thereof may be advantageously made when gases,

volatile oils, or liquids are to be deprived of aqueous impurities, ammoniacal and carbonic acid gases. The nature of my invention is in the arrangement of a series of lengthy but narrow boxes, standing uprightly, through which the material to be cleansed (be the same gas or liquid) is passed, and into which the washingfiuids (usually water) are introduced in jets, said boxes being so placed that their greater surfaces are cooled by water which slowly circulates in intermediate spaces between said boxes. My said invention-is furthermore in certain detail arrangements, which will hereinafter more fully and clearly appear.

To enable those skilled in these arts to fully make and use my said improvements I will now proceed to describe the construction and operation thereof, referring to the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 is a general plan, showing the arrangement of gas boxes and water spaces.

Figure 2 is an end elevation, showing the connecting pipes.

Figure 3 is a vertical section along the line to my 2 of the plan.

The parts composing my said condenser, scrubber, and washer will be usually made of cast and wrought iron, excepting certain valves and stop-cocks, which are brass; the joints being made gas-tight in the usual manner. I construct the exterior casing or siding A of corrugated iroh, securing the same tightly to the bottom B. By a series of inner corrugated walls C C C the space enclosed by A is subdivided into the gas boxes D, covered by the tops D and the water spaces E. The peculiar arrangement of the partition sides C C C is apparent from the plan as shown in fig. 1, the arrangement being such that the gas or other stufl to he acted on shall, in passing the boxes D, traverse the greatest possible distance. Moreover, the arrangement of the sides of A and C C C is intended to furnish a largely increased surface to the condensing and cooling action of air and water by the corrugated surfaces of said parts. In order that the condcnsing'and cooling action of water may be increased I have arranged the sides A O G C to project above the tops of the boxes D, thus forming a series of shallow vessels D above said boxes. I then make a number of holes, a, in the upper edges of 0 C C which permit the water to pass from the water spaces E on 'to and in to said vessels D In order to pass the gas (or other material for purification) into the boxes D, I construct the pipes F and G, connecting the same by means of shorter pipesfand g with the end surfaces of D. To regulate or shut off the passage of gas into each box D, said connecting pipesf and G are arranged with the usualproper stop-cocks or valves f-]f y and g The contiguous central gas boxes 01 and (Z may be seperated by a partition, d In said partition a valve, it, may be placed, through which gas may be passed, thereby connecting said boxes cl and d The gasz(in the arrangement as drawn) is supposed to enter the pipes F at f, to pass through the pipe fand valve into. the first box d and along the interior hereof to its opposite end, where it connects by the connectingwha'mber with the next box (1. The gas then passing along this to its end, where in the connecting-chamber at" is: the partition 01 through the valve 7:, herein and through the box (1 to the opposite end, and through the. connectingchamber oZ up the box d, and out of this through the exit pipe I, it being then supposed that the valves f f and) infare closed. In case, for instance, the boxes at and 0Z are to be cleansed they may be shut, and the valve it being closed the gas will pass through d d and (Z, and passing in the connecting pipe to Fthe valve will pass finally out of F at f, andthus similarly, by properly manipulating the stop-cocks before mentioned. any of said series formed by two contiguous boxes joined by the'chatnbers d and d may be cleansed, the use thereof-as purifiers and condensers being temporarily stopped, whilst the remainingserics of boxes is fully useful to the purposes of this invention. It is well known that, for ex ample, illuminating gas, after it has passed the retorts in which it is evolved, and after it has passed the pro'per.conducting mains, or pipes, is still highly heated and charged with aqueous vapors, ammoniacal gas, carbonic acid-gas, and other impurities. To deprive the illuminating gas of these impurities it is usual to cool the gas, and thereby condense the aqueous vapors to water, and then also to wash or scrub the gas by passing jets of water through the same, and thereby extract the ntnnionincal gases which are absorbed in water, and also, to some extent, extract the carbonic acid and sulphnrettcd hydrogen gases which also are absorbed in the water. As has been explained,thc corrugated surfaces A C C C C, 32s., are specially arranged to conduct oit the heat, and they, therefore, not to cool or condense the gas in the boxes I); moreover, the water in the water spaces E acts efiiciently to cool said corrugated surfaces, and acts thus upon the gas within; lastly, the arrangement of the shallow vessels D whereby water is held on the tops of the boxes 1), acts eificiently for the same purposes. it is in this; therefore, that my said improved invention acts chiciently as a condenser.

The arrangement of my said improvement as a scrubbes and. washer is in the manner now here following: From the shallow vessels D I construct overflow pipes 1:, connecting with the water pipe K; in said pipes it the valves or cocks in may be placed to control this water flow. Said pipe K connects by the service pipes Zu'ith the interior of the boxes D,there being valve Z in said pipes Z to control the \vaterfiow. The water passes just below the tops of the boxes D into the Water-chambers M, the bottom whereof, m, is arranged with holes. permitting the ivater to issue therefrom in a spray upon the gas passingbeiow said chamber M in D, thereby scrubbing the gas and washing therefrom by absorption the impurities hercinbei'ore described. In order that, however, this process of washing maybe still more perfectly accomplished, the gas is made to pass between a series of A-shaped obstruction pieces, 0. Now as, by the continuous shower oi water upon said A pieces 0, they are kept moist- 'ened, the gas current striking thereon, a further thorough absorption of animoniacul and other impurities is eiiected by the moisture aforesaid. The trashing fluid or water then drops to the floor of the box and is drawn .ofi' (impregnated with the impurities before mentioned) by a stop-cock (not shown.) In order that the A pieces may be taken out for cleansing the boxes D may be arrange-cl to be lifted off. It is, moreover, convenient toarrange the valve )1- in the top of one of the boxes to admit Water into the chanber M, or to permit the escape of water in case the boxes have been filled with water preparatory to introducing gas therein. Again, the cleansing process may be facilitated by using stop boxes Nat the ends of the box, so that the same being removed the interior of the boxes may be inspected and cleansed. It is the special nature of my said invention, and the arrangement now hcreinbcfore described is coi'nlucivchcretc specially constructed, to use the water from the water spaces E as Washing fluid, thereby economizing the same; moreover, to pass said fluid through the spaces E, D 830., in a direction reverse to the motion oi" the gas in the boxes 3, hence the water supply is made at the end diagonally opposite to the point of entrance of the gas. Hereby is secured :1, slow circulation of the Witter from the oint ot' its entrance to the s aces 33 to the clot of entrance of the as where the hi hest temperature 7 o 7 O is found, and thus a gradual condensation of the aqueous and other condensable gas impurities takes place.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim is- 1. The lengthy and narrow boxes ID, the natervessels D above the same, and the water spaces E between the same, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The method of applying the water to condense, scrub, an i. Wasn the gas, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the vessels D the overflow pipes is, water pipe K, service pipes Z, and water-chambers M, as and for the purposes set forth. I

l. The application of the jet-chamber M, as and for the purpose setforth.

The application of obstruction pieces extending 5mm top to bottom of the boxes D, substantially as and. for the purposes set forth.

5. The arrangement and combination of the pipes I? and boxes cl d d and d, as and for the purposes set forth.

t, y and g, with their stop-cocks, valves, and the THOMAS B. BURTIS.

Witnesses;

Geo. ARTHUR, S. D. CARPENTER. 

